Woods opens up on field; tourney extended

SAN DIEGO – The last time Tiger Woods played golf on a Monday at Torrey Pines, it worked out pretty well for him.

That was in 2008, when Woods battled – and beat – Rocco Mediate in a classic U.S. Open playoff on the oceanfront in La Jolla. Now, Woods will take to the course again in a similar setting and attempt to lock up what seems like a sure victory at the Farmers Insurance Open.

With dense fog postponing Saturday's third round to Sunday and the remaining 87 golfers at the Open playing almost from sun-up to sundown, the tournament still wasn't done. Woods finished the day at 17-under-par 227 through 61 holes, holding a six-stroke lead on Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney when play was halted because of darkness.

"It was a long day," Woods said. "I mean, we played most of the day, and I played well today. Overall, I'm very pleased that I was able to build on my lead."

Play was officially suspended just before 5 p.m., although some golfers remained on the course for 15 more minutes while finishing their holes – including Woods, who did elaborate stretching exercises as he waited on the green.

He proceeded to sink a par putt as the sun sank in the distance.

Woods will tee off on the eighth hole at the Torrey Pines South Course at 11:10 a.m. Monday.

As play paused Sunday, the big lead prompted Woods to be more receptive than normal to questions about his golfing legacy – both overall and at Torrey Pines. Asked how he would have responded 15 years ago to news that he'd be going for his 75th PGA Tour victory and a record-breaking eighth on this course, Woods grinned.

"I would take that," he said. "I would take that for sure."

At the conclusion of the third round, Woods led by four strokes over Brad Fritsch and five over Erik Compton. But both golfers, playing in the group just before Woods', quickly fell back in the fourth round and trailed by eight and nine strokes, respectively, at the close of play.

"I've never played in this atmosphere, especially in front of Tiger," said Fritsch, a tour rookie. "It would be a really interesting tournament if he wasn't here, in terms of the scoring,"

Said Woods of his third round, a 3-under 69: "I played well. I played really, really well."

After a half-hour break, Woods struggled some at the start of the fourth round with consecutive left-leaning tee shots, but he salvaged pars on the first two holes.

Then he went on a mini-run and hit birdies on three of his next four holes – including a beautiful chip-in on the par-four fourth. He played the first seven holes at a 3-under pace.

Woods has led a PGA Tour event after three rounds 53 times; he has won a remarkable 49 of those and has shot an over-par fourth round only four times.

The two tour veterans chasing Woods tried to hold out hope for an upset as they left the course Sunday, but spirits weren't terribly high.

"All we can do tomorrow is go out and try to make him think about it a little bit and see what happens," said Watney, the 2009 Farmers champion.

Through eight fourth-round holes, Watney has registered an 11-under 236 for the tourney. Snedeker, the reigning champion, sits at 11-under 257 with five holes to finish.

Woods eschewed his infamous Sunday red uniform in favor of a gray-on-white combination. He explained the decision succinctly afterward.

"It wasn't the final day," Woods said, pausing for effect and a sly grin. "I'll wear it tomorrow."

Notes

Mission Viejo native Cameron Tringale, the lone local golfer remaining, sits 11 strokes behind Woods with six holes to play. ... Several golfers competing here today have tee times scheduled for this afternoon in Arizona to qualify for the WM Phoenix Open, which they are unlikely to make because of the late start. Any golfer who finishes in the top 10 at Farmers will automatically qualify, however. ... Gates open at 10 a.m. Monday. Admission and selected parking is free. Golf Channel and CBS will split the broadcast.